This Friday evening the Malone church (New Covenant) is celebrating their 30th anniversary, and Danny & Giselle Bonilla will be sharing. We also have Jae-Jae Lombardo & Linda Morales from NTC singing a special during the service. If you can make it, let's plan a night on the town, leaving here at about 6pm and catching a bite in Malone when the service concludes. Please post whether or not you will be able to make it, because if there are enough of us we could perhaps take a van over.
Hey...has anyone given any thought to Brit's post on Psalm 51:6? If not, why not? Come'on put some thoughts down on what she wrote. In the last three weeks two huge disappointments have happened in Christianity...revelations about Todd Bentley and now Austrailian singer Michael Guglielmucci, the guy who recorded the Hillsong runaway hit, "You're My Healer." He recently confessed he never had cancer after deceiving tens of thousands of believers, not to mention his wife and family. He has also confessed that the cancer deception was just an extension of his secret addiction to adult pornography for the last 16 years. The following www.youtube.com link is very disturbing, and also enlightening of how sincere people can be led astray. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcswYwQczPc&feature=related) I would say, in light of these recent Christian news events, that Brittany's post is especially pertinent.
How will we know who/what is true and who/what is false? "...truth in the inward parts..." ummhhhh...time to post...
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I think that I can manage to make it on Friday ;-)
I really am going to try to make it Friday night. I work till 6.
As far as the disappointments....at first I felt so sick inside about it all. But then once I took a step back, I hurt for them a great deal. They sinned much like we all sin every day, except for them, millions of people know what they did wrong. But I am also so happy for them because now the road to repentance and healing can take place in their lives and I feel like that is what we should be focusing on and even praying for them.
As far as the revival and the power of the song "healer", I believe God is bigger than any man and though those men played a big role in those things I believe the power of God can work far more than the deceitfulness of them. (I think that is worded weird, sorry)
I just really feel like we cant say the revival is all wrong now because the "leader" was in sin, or that the power of the healer song is void now. (Not that anyone has said that, just personally that thought did at one time go through my mind) If anything I think we need to just continue to pray for those in "influential" positions.
Brits post.... is definitely awesome. I want on the inside to be everything I may say on the outside. I want to be completely changed inside and out to be who God wants me to be.
good thoughts Kristan....
You know what verse freaks me out though?? I can't find it...but it says something like - " Be careful when you think you're standing, lest you fall." (not entirely right...but something like that) Maybe I have an unhealthy fear going on..but this scares me. Where is the balance between the times when you are doing really good...and when you feel like you have nothing in you and you are having a hard time trusting that God even exsists? I guess what i just described is a life style that doesn't really rely on being in God's presence and getting strength from that?? I feel, as i grow, that I am becoming more stable...or level i guess....not so up and down. And that's what i want!! BALANCE. But, i guess my question is...is it ok to just completely enjoy the times when you are doing well?? Actually, i think it is...but the key is to enjoy it with humilty...knowing my flaws and downfalls and that i can make a bad choice any day..but just trusting the Goodness of God in my life despite my fallen nature. Gosh...i think i totally know the answers to my questions ( at least partially)....I guess i just had to get those thoughts out. Please comment! I want some input on my scattered thoughts. Oh...and good news! I start Pizza Hut today! yay! : P
oh i forgot...I definitely want to go Friday. Where and when do we meet?
I just found the verse. 1 Corinthians 10:12 " So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"
I was going to say I'll be going on Friday, but wait -- this week isn't a normal young adults' meeting week, so I'll be at Cross Current. That's kind of sad; I was looking forward to seeing some of the Malone-ians -- but God's been doing awesome things with the youth! It's win-win!
I'm not sure whether to comment here or after Brittany's original post, but might as well start the discussion on the newest thread.
Lately, I've been reading and praying about really focusing on the things that are most important; I want everything I do to matter from an eternal perspective. I was looking at Philippians 4 ("think on these things") and the small section of Matthew 6 that talks about storing up treasures in heaven. I saw something I'd never noticed or paid attention to, in the context of the chapter it's in. Immediately after Matthew mentions Jesus talking about treasures in heaven, He is talking about our eyes being the window or lamp of our bodies, by which we are filled with light (a different telling of Jesus' same message in Luke 11).
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."
Last night I was out running and it was perfectly clear out, no clouds anywhere, but it was hard to see the stars until I went way out past all the lights, into the middle of the back soccer fields. Even though the smallest star is thousands of times brighter than anything we can produce, but it's impossible to see the stars if you're looking at the artificial lights that are all around.
Jesus' words in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 are almost scary to me:
"If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:23
"See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." Luke 11:35
What does that mean? We can have light in our lives that's not really light? In light of the discussion and what's going on the "Christian world" right now, I'm impressed even more with the importance of accountability and self-examination to make sure that everything in our lives that seems like light really is light.
Oops, I guess I'm not really starting the discussion when I take six hours to write a comment. :P
That verse from 1 Corinthians is spot-on, too. Maybe it's just that, personally, I'm most worried about self-deception and letting myself believe things are well and good when they may not really be, or when God is trying to show me something that I'm not seeing. Nobody ever starts out (as Michael Guglielmucci talks about in the video linked above) saying, "I think I'm going to just try and fool the world." It starts when we deceive ourselves? At least, I've been guilty of that, where little compromises and "dark corners" go unnoticed or unchallenged. Opening up doesn't come easily, like Britt said, but the end result is a life that's brilliant and radiant (with real light). Just.. wow!
i just watched that thing on you tube, and to be completely honest, my heart breaks for that guy. i mean if i had known him personally i may have had a different reaction. I've been there. i know what it can be like to live in that torment of lying. there were a couple people who were in that video who said its a shock and disappointing but we are all human and we all sin. i liked that. it didnt rock their world like it did others but they got it right when they said, we are all sinners. we all have our secrets and being deliberate about being as transapent as you can is really important to not fall into sin so deeply. i dont think that man has ever felt the freedom that comes through true confession and that breaks my heart bc that is a treasured gift given by God that He desires for us to have. there will be a lot of consequences that follow this especially bc it is so public and he is famous but when that is all said and done he will have that freedom and he will be completely changed. that is an amazing and awesome picture.
Anyone else going to Malone on Friday evening?
Kristan...bang on! Revival is on the heart of God, and songs about Jesus being our healer is also His heart and need to be sung. The harsh reality is that flawed vessels will, unless in brutally honest accountability relationships, fumble the ball and make a mess of things. So we do need to pray for people in places of influence, that they will not only be protected but that they will have relationships where they can live in true accountability. Part of my struggle with the "You're My Healer" video was that I was impacted by the song and apparent anointing, yet was it a true anointing or was it a counterfeit? God's mercy is profound so Michael will find his way in God if he so chooses, but what does this all say about the Body of Christ and the anointing? In some parts of Western Christianity there is no desire for experience, because of such situations, and in other parts of Christianity experience seems to be much of the focus. Where is the balance? Do I need an experience to grow in my faith? Or does experience validate my faith? As is normally the case in life, it is never either or, but and. Christianity is about faith AND experience, as long as our experiences do not drive our faith, but rather our faith is driving any experience we may have. Years ago I heard a doctor of theology speaking on behalf of the legitimacy of spiritual experiences in Christianity. In his opening point he was addressing some of the problem with Western Christianity. He stated, "Here we have a Bible written about men and women who have ALL had spiritual experiences, being read and interpreted each Sunday by men and women who have NOT had a spiritual experience and they are telling people in the pew that they should not desire a spiritual experience." Whaaaaat? The Prof’s point was that experience is “part and parcel” of Christianity, and the moment one tries to extricate experience from faith, a non-biblical Christianity is being presented.
I think that this blog was wrong to begin with. Why did you create a blog post that did nothing but point out the flaws of others. Would you like to have someone post a blog about what you have done wrong in you life. I know I would not want that to happen. As for that song "Healer" it is anointed because it is sung to God. All songs to God are anointed.
The point of this post wasn't to bash people when they are down, but rather to encourage each of us to look within ourselves. How are our inward parts??? If this can happen to what are perceived as "Mighty Men of God", what are we to do to prevent this happening in our own walks.
It's like as a mom, when I find out that a child in my daughter's class has done something foolish and gotten in trouble, as often children will do :), I use this misjudgment on another's part to bring up discussion and help my child understand how and what not to do to end up in the same place.
I believe Don is using this bad situation to help stir up Godly wisdom in the Young Adults group. Not to attack someone when they are down.
ive been thinking about how to react to that comment for the past half hour bc i think something is wrong. ive been looking up bible verses and praying. i think that raechelle got it right. don is a pastor and part of his job is to shepherd. i think a situation like this one in australia is a good one to show the extreme importance of good accountability. this post is really only to make us aware more than anything that without accountability, anyone, even king david himself can fall. im kinda happy hearing about this bc it means this man isnt going to take this secret to the grave with him. a brother has returned. my soul feels like celebrating more than retaliating and burying this man. it initilly is sad but this man is free and thats awesome.
just to update who ever is going tomorrow...I'm gunna go to the DOC instead now. Last minute change! Hope it's awesome though! : )
I am kind of glad we all ducked, because "the last one to throw a stone" sure hucked a pretty good sized one at all of us. Shelly & Travis you summarized the purpose for the posts...THANKS! Discussing real life events for the purpose of being aware of our own weaknesses so we might not fall in a similar manner is a direct response to many of Paul's admonitions. He was frequently warning the church to not follow the example of others who were not representing Christ. He even referenced how the events that happened to Israel were recorded for our learning so that we might not follow their example. Consider this 1Corinthians text(1Cor 10:5-6), "But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (1Cor 10:5-6) And in Romans 15:4 he says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." May we abound in AGAPE, grow in FAITH and overflow with HOPE, because that good thing that He started in us He is going to complete.
First of all I would like to say I am honestly sorry for what I have written in the past. I did not fully understand what the post was intended for. I want to say thank you to "adam and raechell" for clarifying this blog post. I also in no way intended to hurt anyone in any way. Also I did not take kindly to "pd -n- mary" making a pun off of this user name. I would appreciate if you would not do so in the future because the user name has a great meaning in my life.
This comment is directed to "the last one to throw a stone." We certainly harbor no ill will towards you for simply expressing yourself. Free expression is important to us here within this community. I for one appreciate all opinions about all subjects but I also would like to be able to associate a face with a name. If you know all of us it's only fair that we know you. If you don't know us then why not come join us next Friday evening? Stay tuned to this blog and there will be more details.
This one goes out to "barry", I understand that none of you "harbor no ill towards" me. I love you all but I wish not to give out my name due to the fact that it does not really matter who I am. As I stated earlier, I was confused and it was immature on my behalf to post a comment like the first one I posted.I should have asked why instead of trying to be judgmental.
I will be careful in the future about how I word what I am trying to say. Also I would like to ask for forgiveness from "pd-n-mary". I had a harden heart and a very judgmental spirit.
barry i love how you put your comment. its a different thought than i had. i mean there are many sides to interpretting something and going straight for invitation to be part of our community, i really like that. it sounds kinda like they are part of our family at ntc anyway but i just really like your heart barry.
i had no idea adam and raechell was adam and chelly conn. thats awesome. im really excited you guys are on this with us.
Thanks Travis...:) Shel
oh shelly. thought you spelled it different. anyway, that is wicked cool
Wow, apparently I missed a lot while my internet was down. I wish I had time to comment now. Instead I will drop a question... Does God every "change His mind?" Can we beseech God to cause Him to change His mind? Adam and I were discussing this after our last meeting...
Lisa, What a great topic! I love this idea and thought.
God shared a story with us from the Bible to prove we can do just that....change His mind. :)
In Exodus 32: 7-10 God tells Moses to go down to the people of Israel. 9)And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10) Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
God had determined that by their actions he was going to destroy them.
But then just 4 verses later, God changes his mind. Moses speaks to him and in that relationship of friendship, Moses finds the Lord repenting of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Another thought: In John 15: 14-16 Jesus calls us his friends. That he chose us, and that whatsoever we ask of the Father in His name, he may give it to us.
What does everyone else think?
i like this topic. it is a mystery but at the same time its not. i like the idea that we can be such great friends with God and have that type of relationship with Him where we actually take part like that. i like that we could come to a place where we would think so much like God that we actually converse with Him on that level. it is a beautiful site.
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